Brian Wolkenberg

Brian Wolkenberg was diagnosed with cholangiocarcinoma in the Autumn of 2020 after a routine screening for his liver disease, Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis (PSC). Because PSC eventually causes liver failure, the initial treatment plan was a liver transplant to address both conditions. Unfortunately, his cancer spread before he was able to find a liver donor and he started systemic cancer treatment.

Brian, raised in New Jersey, received his undergraduate degree from Cornell University, followed by two graduate degrees from MIT in Boston, where he met Sari London.  They were married in 2000 and several years later relocated to Deerfield, Illinois where they established a home, welcomed three children…now all teenagers, and became an integral part of the community.  In addition to being a loving husband, Brian is also an amazing Dad…coaching soccer teams and attending an infinite number of school musical performances.  Brian loved baseball…both as a spectator and as a participant. His other passions included the band U2, a carry-over from his teen years, and ice cream…especially mint chocolate chip!  Brian found his center in the natural world, feeling a spiritual connection in the woods or on a mountain top.  Having been a vegetarian since his early 20s, his concern for our environment also led to a decade-long stint as a member of his community’s Sustainability Committee. Brian recently took leave from his job as Director of Product and Technology for Paylocity. In this role, he particularly enjoyed mentoring others to grow professionally as strategic leaders.

Brian proceeded along his cancer care path with great positivity and impressive calm. He and his family systematically sought treatment until exhausting all available options. Having enrolled in home hospice care, Brian maintained a positive attitude and relished the love extended to him by his family and his community of caring friends. When asked how he’s doing he often quoted one of his early cancer care advisors… “I’m ok…..I just have to be flexible in how I define ok”.  It’s a journey.

Brian and Sari are thankful for the support of their community of friends and family and would be honored to have your financial support for the important work of the Cholangiocarcinoma Foundation. This organization helped them in countless ways on this cancer journey. Their hope is that research efforts funded by the Foundation will eventually provide a path to survival for patients like Brian.